Karen is survived by her children Michael Paul Pelzman (Lynn) of Redwood City, CA; Mary Elizabeth Hardin (Bradley) of Parker, CO; grandson Harry Pelzman of Redwood City, CA; brother Victor Russelavage (Diane) of Chandler, AZ; sister Jeffrie Normoyle (John) of Middletown, MD; aunt Selma Eller of Pueblo West, CO; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband William Paul Pelzman, parents Betty and Victor Russelavage, sisters Mary Russelavage and Veronica Kelley.
Our beloved Karen was the oldest of 5 siblings by 8 years and more. Born in Granite City, IL., she moved to Colorado Springs as a two year old. Her father Victor was a career US Air Force CWO-4 and his duties included two tours at the Pentagon and four years at the American Embassy in London, allowing her to live in various exciting places including England.
After graduating from Washington and Lee High School in Arlington, VA., Karen worked in the Pentagon. She mentioned years later that she had the plans for the Bay of Pigs invasion on her desk but at the time had no idea what it was.
Karen and her family originally made their home in Bath, PA, where she raised her children and performed secretarial work until husband Bill passed away at the young age of 54 from cancer.
In 1988, Karen moved to Colorado Springs and worked for many years at the US Olympic Training Center as a direct report to the USOC CFO. She found this job exciting and rewarding, and often spoke about the famous and inspirational people that she was privileged to work with and for. After the USOC, Karen went to work at Rock Shox in Colorado Springs. When Rock Shox decided to abandon manufacturing in the USA and moved to China, Karen left the work force for good.
Upon the death of Karen’s father, her mother Betty and she chose to live together, providing companionship for each other for more than 23 years. After some years in Colorado, Karen and Betty moved to Paris, TN in search of a lower cost of living and a slower lifestyle. They lived only a few miles from where Betty grew up in Tennessee Ridge.
After Betty passed away, Karen moved back to Colorado Springs and lived on her own until early onset dementia required her to move in with daughter Mary and son-in-law Bradley. Mary cared for Karen for two years until the forces of dementia had degraded her faculties to the point that she required 24/7 professional care. She spent the last 26 months of her life at Brookside Inn Care Facility in Castle Rock. Her family would like to express their profound appreciation to the staff at Brookside for providing our Karen with such warm and loving care.
Karen lived for her children and was so very proud of the adults that they have become. She was blessed with a grandson, Harry. She would make the drive to Redwood City, CA by herself from Colorado to spend some time with Michael, Lynn, and Harry, who became the light of her life. She often said that she wanted to live long enough to see Harry graduate from high school. The day before Karen’s passing, Harry graduated from Woodside High School in Woodside, CA with good grades and an athletic scholarship to pitch for the University of California San Diego’s baseball team. Although she was not at the event, and had lost all of her faculties, she waited to leave until Harry’s graduation was complete.
In addition to spending time with family, Karen enjoyed travel, gardens, crafts, genealogy, music, and the performing arts. She was an avid reader and a very talented knitter and crocheter.
Karen was unassuming, giving, caring, and loving towards all, friend or stranger. She spent her life caring for others and left the world with a wonderful family legacy that will live on for a long time. She leaves a void that is impossible to fill and her family will miss her immensely. We thank God that he placed her with us as we would all be much the lesser had we not had Karen in our lives.
A graveside service will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Bath, PA, on a date to be determined.
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